The Comics Run: November 26, 2012

It's another big week for comics (is there ever not a big week?) that sees the launch of our most anticipated Marvel NOW! book and the start of the Throne of Atlantis crossover between Aquaman and Justice League.

If you want a comprehensive list of everything that’s coming out this week and not just my own picks for what’s hot, check out Diamond’s shipping list.

Aquaman #14 - $2.99

By Geoff Johns, Pete Woods & Pere Perez | DC

In my chat with Geoff Johns last week, he mentioned how his intention with this series was to position Arthur as a primary facet of the Justice League. This week’s issue #14 is the realization of that goal in many ways. This is a prelude chapter to Throne of Atlantis, the first big crossover story for the main Justice League title, which will be split between that series and this one.

While it’s not “part one” per se, this is the lead-up to a story that will have lasting ramifications on both Aquaman and the League. We’ve said it a million times since September 2011, but Johns has managed to make Aquaman relevant in a way most of us never imagined. By now, though, that’s old hat. Throne of Atlantis is the next step in that process: presenting Arthur as the leading man in an epic story. Bring on the Atlanteans!

Batman Incorporated #5 - $2.99

By Grant Morrison & Chris Burnham | DC

In my 25 Best Comic Runs of the Decade article from a while back, I declared Grant Morrison’s Batman work as top dog. Of that stellar run, Batman #666 was easily one of my favorites. It featured a drastic jump into a terrifying future for Gotham City, where Damian Wayne had become a far more brutal and unforgiving Batman than we were used to.

Lucky for me, Batman Incorporated #5 is returning us back to that same future, where we’ll get a little more of future Batman, including some insight into his role at Arkham Asylum… where he’s the warden. Hey, it’s better than being an inmate, right? Right?!

All-New X-Men #2 - $3.99

By Brian Bendis & Stuart Immonen | Marvel

I had a lot of fun with the debut issue of All-New X-Men, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t even more jazzed for issue #2 solely due to the promise of those original X-kids going to the future and seeing Marty McFly’s worst fear coming to fruition: meeting the a-holes that they become.

Okay, that’s not entirely fair in all cases. But still, knowing the horrid future that awaits characters like Jean Grey and Cyclops makes watching their most idealistic incarnations be confronted with that is exciting. Plus, Immonen draws some truly gorgeous superhero comics, so that’s a boon as well.

FF #1 - $2.99

By Matt Fraction & Mike Allred | Marvel

To continue with the Back to the Future references: “This is the big one; the one I’ve been waiting for all my life!” Topping the list of our most anticipated Marvel NOW! books, FF from Fraction and Allred has all the makings to be the most unique and fun series in not only the Marvel Universe, but all of superhero comics.

Fraction’s Hawkeye is currently king of “different” superhero comics, but he could very well outdo himself. Add onto that Mike Allred – who’s last lengthy stint in the Marvel Universe gifted us with the wonderful X-Statix (landing at #6 in our 25 Greatest X-Men Stories) -- and the expectations are quite high. No pressure, guys, but this is probably my most anticipated book this year.

Witch Doctor: Mal Practice #1 - $2.99

By Brandon Seifert & Lukas Ketner | Image

In 2011, Image Comics delivered a fun, twisted mini-series about an occult doctor that leads his peers in supernatural disease named Dr. Morrow. The first series was more or less a collection of done-in-one tales that delivered procedural-style action, but it looks like this sequel series is aiming to build a larger story. This time around, Morrow wakes up sans memories, so he’s left to stitch together the pieces of what he did the night before. Surely, it’s going to be a bit more disgusting than The Hangover.

If you’re a person that digs the quirkier episodes of the X-Files more than the uber-serious mythology-centric ones, this is a book you should check out.

Joey is IGN's Comics Editor and a comic book creator himself. Follow Joey on Twitter, or find him on IGN. He thinks knows the world needs more horror comic books.